You Visited Aging Loved Ones Over the Holidays, ‘Now What?’

Advanced Health Care Kitchen
Caregivers can help prepare meals and make sure that there is fresh food on hand and in the fridge. Photo courtesy: Advanced Health Care
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Submitted by Julianne Ferguson, Administrator and Lynessa Stone, Director of Marketing for Advanced Health Care

Has a recent visit to a senior or aging loved one over the holidays revealed that they may need more assistance in and around their home?  Perhaps you noticed a new odor in the home that may be a sign of an incontinence issue.  Was the house looking unkempt, perhaps a sink was filled with dirty dishes or piles of mail were stacking up?  Did you notice little to no food in the fridge? Or any other sign that caused you to pause and wonder how long they may be able to live like this in their own home?

Advanced Health Care holiday with family
Sometimes visits during the holidays to aging loved ones you don’t normally see, may reveal a decline in their ability to care for themselves or their home. Photo courtesy: Advanced Health Care

As studies reveal, most aging Americans want to remain in their own home. Home care and home support services may be a viable alternative for seniors whose goal is to age in place at home, but may need assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) to do so. Home support services typically include shopping; preparation of meals; assistance with dressing, bathing, and personal hygiene; help with ambulation (walking, transferring from bed to chair, etc.); transportation; and housekeeping.

Services provided in the home by a paid in-home caregiver may be more cost efficient than moving to an assisted living facility, depending upon the amount of care and type of services the senior needs. It is important to do a cost comparison of services for individuals that have financial concerns. A way to obtain information on both options is to contact the local Area Agency on Aging (AAOA) and/or a geriatric care manager.

Hiring Home Care Agencies

Advanced Health Care Kitchen
Caregivers can help prepare meals and make sure that there is fresh food on hand and in the fridge. Photo courtesy: Advanced Health Care

If you decide to utilize in-home care services, it is important to assess the caregiver that will be providing the assistance. Home care agencies hire workers and send them out to the homes of the clients. It is important for you to know if the agency is reputable.  Some important questions you might want to consider asking include:

  • How long has the agency been in operation?
  • Does the agency supply detailed information on fees and services provided?
  • Do they require money up front or is it pay as you go?
  • Are the workers licensed, bonded, and insured? What kind of training do they have?
  • Who will supervise the client’s care and the employees who are sent out to the home?
  • Do they provide free nursing oversight to clients on service?
  • What kind of technology does the agency utilize to help family members in monitoring the care and/or scheduling?
  • Is the home care agency licensed by the state? (Requirements differ from state to state)
  • Can the agency also provide skilled care should the needs of the client increase?
  • Can the agency supply references?
Advanced Health Care Sandra with Client
Advanced Health Care caregiver, Sandra W. helps her client Mr. T. get outdoors and enjoy the views in the Pacific Northwest. Photo courtesy: Advanced Health Care

After the Hire

If you have helped a loved one obtain a caregiver, continue to monitor the caregiver, whether it is an agency supplied caregiver or a personal hire you made. If you live close enough to your loved one, drop in unexpectedly. Ask your loved one about their experiences with the caregiver. If they seem uncomfortable or apprehensive, pay attention and investigate further. Though it may take time and energy, the dignity

and sense of independence derived from living at home is well worth the effort of finding the right assistance.

To learn more about in-home care, visit the Advanced Healthcare website.

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